Let’s talk about maps

I am currently in the process of sketching out a version of Quinn’s map. By which I mean, I am making an absolutely awful job of putting the world from The Mapmaker Chronicles down on paper. When I am writing, it all makes perfect sense – I can see the Libertas ploughing through the waves, can see a complete image of each place Quinn visits, and I can see, with singular clarity, every detail of Quinn’s beautiful map.

When it comes to getting all that imagery out of my head and onto the page, however, it’s a little different. Imagine the Mona Lisa. Now imagine the stick figures your kids drew when they were younger. The difference is that marked.

I’ve been having fun with it, however, deciding where everything goes, and how to draw a large, white narwhal, and where, precisely, Kurt’s village needs to lie. But I’m sadly aware that my efforts are NOTHING like they should be.

You’ll notice the use of drawings of ships and sea monsters and angels and the like – mostly to fill in the gaps where the mapmaker’s actual knowledge ran out and swathes of ocean needed livening up. The middle map (above) is from a book called Maps of The Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer (Peter Turchi) – which is possibly one I should read before I go too much further…

The fact is that my pencil sketch of Quinn’s map will never see the light of day. It will be sent to a talented illustrator who will bring it to life and make the reality match up to that wondrous picture in my mind.

I’m pretty sure that Nammu* will be happy with that.

If you (or the kids) are interested in learning more about maps and mapmaking, I’ve put together a list of resources to get you started.

*Quinn’s favourite mythical beast, which may bear a striking resemblance to a large, white narwhal